Removable liner for crotch of trousers

ABSTRACT

A soft, flexible, double layer fabric pad-like liner has four rounded wings arranged in a generally cruciform shape. Each wing includes an attachment element that registers with a complementary attachment element on respective seams of a garment to removably engage the liner with the garment over the seams.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to removable liners for covering the inside crotch seams of trousers such as jeans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trousers such as rugged jeans typically have relatively heavy seams, and the seams crossing at the crotch portion of the trousers can cause discomfort particularly to women who for appearances may prefer not to wear undergarments so as to avoid unsightly “panty lines”.

Simply covering the crotch seams with permanent fabric in turn means that every time the fabric, which functions as de facto underwear, requires laundering, the entire trousers must be laundered. However, for reasons of fit it is sometimes desirable not to launder rugged trousers at the same frequency as it is typically desired to launder underwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for covering interior seams of a garment has a liner that includes four rounded wings arranged in a generally cruciform shape. Each wing flares slightly out from a respective rounded end toward a center junction of the liner where all wings merge. Each wing has generally linear sides extending from the rounded end of the wing toward the center junction, and a bottom wing is longer than other wings. A respective attachment element is associated with each rounded end and is configured for registering with and removably engaging respective garment attachment elements of the garment to detachably cover the interior seams.

The attachment elements can be snaps, buttons, hooks, Velcro™, etc. The seams are generally perpendicular to each other and cross each other at a crotch center, with respective garment attachment elements being engaged with each seam. The garment attachment elements register with the attachment elements of the liner when the liner is positioned over the crotch center with each wing lying along a respective seam. The liner may include two layers of breathable material.

In another aspect, a soft, flexible, pad-like liner has plural wings. Each wing includes an attachment element that registers with a complementary attachment element on a respective seam of a garment to removably engage the liner with the garment over the seams.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes trousers having inside seams crossing at a crotch center and a liner configured to cover the seams when positioned over the crotch center. Means are provided for releasably holding the liner on the seams such that the liner can be removed from the trousers and laundered separately therefrom.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the liner;

FIG. 2 is a side view of trousers showing the location of the liner therein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the liner attached to trousers to cover an inside crotch seam thereof, with one corner of the liner detached and folded away for clarity and with the seams under the liner shown in phantom; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a net laundry bag with liner inside for laundering the liner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a soft, flexible, typically although not necessarily double layer fabric pad-like liner 10 with four rounded wings 12 arranged in a generally cruciform shape, with each wing 12 flaring slightly out from its rounded end 14 toward a center junction 16 of the liner where all wings 12 merge. As shown, each wing 12 has generally linear sides 18 extending from the rounded end 14 of the wing 12 toward the center junction 16. With the generally cruciform-like shape in mind, the bottom wing 12 a may be longer than the other wings as shown, although in other embodiments the liner may be a single layer of fabric and/or have wings of substantially equal length.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the four rounded ends 14 includes a respective attachment element 20 that removably holds the liner 10 to an article of clothing, such as jeans or other garment with a crotch seam. In FIG. 1 there exist only four attachment elements 20; however, additional attachment sites may be provided so that the liner 10 may be more firmly fixed in the clothing. In example embodiments the attachment elements 20 may be snaps, buttons, hooks, or Velcro™ or the like as described more fully below which are engaged with the fabric of the liner in accordance with attachment principles known in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the liner 10 may be engaged with a garment 24 such as a pair of rugged trousers having generally perpendicular seams 26 crossing each other at a crotch center point 28 (best shown in FIG. 3). Respective garment attachment elements 30 preferably are engaged with each seam 26 and as shown in FIG. 3, the garment attachment elements 30 register with the attachment elements 20 of the liner 10 when the liner is positioned over the crotch center with each wing lying along a respective seam. The garment attachment elements 30 are complementarily formed with the attachment elements 20 of the liner 10 to removably engage the attachment elements 20 of the liner 10. As non-limiting examples, the attachment elements 20 of the liner 10 may be male snap elements with the garment attachment elements 30 being female snap elements. Or, the attachment elements 20 of the liner 10 may be hooks with the garment attachment elements 30 being loops for receiving the hooks. Yet again, the attachment elements 20 of the liner 10 may be buttons with the garment attachment elements 30 being loops for receiving the buttons. The attachment element configurations above may be reversed. Also, as mentioned above the attachment elements 20, 30 may be Velcro™-type pads. Combinations of the above elements may be used. The attachment elements 20, 30 facilitate easy engagement and disengagement of the liner with the garment, i.e., without requiring thread or glue.

The liner 10 may include two layers of breathable material, such as cotton knit. The section of the padding that faces the skin of the wearer may be one hundred percent cotton or cotton knit while the backing material (that faces the garment) may be polyester, single or double knit, or polyester polypopin. The layer facing the garment can bear the attachment elements 20 and may also be silk screened with a logo.

FIG. 4 shows that a mesh laundry bag 32 may be provided with open end 34 through which the liner 10 can be placed. A drawstring 36 or equivalent may be provided to close the open end 34. The bag 32 with liner 10 may then be laundered.

While the particular REMOVABLE LINER FOR CROTCH OF TROUSERS is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims. 

1. Device for covering interior seams of a garment comprising: a liner including four rounded wings arranged in a generally cruciform shape, with each wing flaring slightly out from a respective rounded end toward a center junction of the liner where all wings merge, each wing having generally linear sides extending from the rounded end of the wing toward the center junction, a bottom wing being longer than other wings; and a respective attachment element associated with each rounded end and configured for registering with and removably engaging respective garment attachment elements of the garment to detachably cover the interior seams.
 2. Device of claim 1, wherein the attachment elements are snaps.
 3. Device of claim 1, wherein the attachment elements include buttons.
 4. Device of claim 1, wherein the attachment elements include hooks.
 5. Device of claim 1, wherein the attachment elements include Velcro™.
 6. Device of claim 1, wherein the seams are generally perpendicular to each other and cross each other at a crotch center, respective garment attachment elements being engaged with each seam, the garment attachment elements registering with the attachment elements of the liner when the liner is positioned over the crotch center with each wing lying along a respective seam.
 7. Device of claim 1, wherein the liner includes two layers of breathable material.
 8. A soft, flexible, pad-like liner having plural wings, each wing including an attachment element that registers with a complementary attachment element on a respective seam of a garment to removably engage the liner with the garment over the seams.
 9. The liner of claim 8, wherein the wings are arranged in a generally cruciform shape.
 10. The liner of claims 9, wherein the liner comprises four rounded wings with each wing flaring slightly out from a respective rounded end toward a center junction of the liner where all wings merge, each wing having generally linear sides extending from the rounded end of the wing toward the center junction, a bottom wing being longer than other wings.
 11. The liner of claim 10, wherein a respective attachment element is associated with each rounded end and is configured for registering with and removably engaging respective garment attachment elements of the garment to detachably cover interior seams.
 12. The liner of claim 8, wherein the attachment elements are snaps.
 13. The liner of claim 8, wherein the attachment elements include buttons.
 14. The liner of claim 8, wherein the attachment elements include hooks.
 15. The liner of claim 8, wherein the attachment elements include Velcro™.
 16. The liner of claim 8, wherein the seams are generally perpendicular to each other and cross each other at a crotch center, respective garment attachment elements being engaged with each seam, the garment attachment elements registering with the attachment elements of the liner when the liner is positioned over the crotch center with each wing lying along a respective seam.
 17. The liner of claim 8, wherein the liner includes two layers of breathable material.
 18. Apparatus, comprising: trousers having inside seams crossing at a crotch center; liner configured to cover the seams when positioned over the crotch center; and means for releasably holding the liner on the seams such that the liner can be removed from the trousers and laundered separately therefrom.
 19. Apparatus of claim 18, the liner including four rounded wings arranged in a generally cruciform shape, with each wing flaring slightly out from a respective rounded end toward a center junction of the liner where all wings merge, each wing having generally linear sides extending from the rounded end of the wing toward the center junction, a bottom wing being longer than other wings.
 20. Apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for releasably holding includes plural attachment elements, one on each wing. 